THE attack on police in north Belfast at the weekend was significant in that while the threat level remains severe, gun attacks on officers are relatively rare.
Dissident republican activity has been seriously curbed in recent years, with advanced and aggressive intelligence techniques resulting in numerous arrests and the leadership of the two main organisations under constant surveillance.
The last police officer to be killed as a result of a shooting was Constable Stephen Carroll in Craigavon in March 2009, by the Continuity IRA.
The attack on Sunday, at a filling station on the Crumlin Road, appeared to take advantage of officers frequently using the shop, which is just minutes from Tennent Street police station but also sits between the republican Ardoyne and New Lodge areas.
This apparent lapse in security almost cost an officer his life, with some of the bullets possibly deflected body armour.
A review of officers' security and what areas and shops they frequent is now expected to take place.
The shooting is believed to have been carried out by the organisation calling itself the 'IRA', which has a presence in north Belfast.
A gun attack on a police convoy in north Belfast in December 2013, just yards from the scene of Sunday's attack, did not result in any injuries but three men remain on bail awaiting trial on related offences including Lurgan republican Colin Duffy.
Two AK47 rifles were recovered in the follow-up operation, which resulted in bullet strike marks to an armoured vehicle.
In April last year taxi driver Michael McGibbon was also shot dead a short distance away in a murder claimed by the 'IRA'.
Sources say the group has access to a small number of weapons including three automatic rifles of the type used to shoot into the garage forecourt.
This latest attack demonstrates that while police and intelligence agencies may have directed massive amounts of resources towards dissident groups, it is almost impossible to thwart every attack and predict when gunmen will move to exploit gaps in security.
